Kapurthala, July 17
Grounding the tall claims made by the state government of redressing the grievances received during the Sangat Darshan within a fortnight, the district administration has failed to take action on a genuine complaint submitted to deputy commissioner J.M. Balamurugan nearly two months.

The complaint was submitted by a group number of farmers of Jainpur village falling under Sultanpur Lodhi sub division to DC in the Sangat Darshan held on May 6.

In their complaint, the farmers stated that despite the declaration made by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to compensate the farmers who lost their wheat crop due the rains in March and April, a large chunk of farmers have still not been paid.

However, at the behest of patwari Baljeet Singh some villagers, who had not even sown wheat crop in their fields, have been compensated. “The patwari had prepared wrong girdawari report on the basis of which the compensation was disbursed,” said the complainants.

The DC had directed additional deputy commissioner B.S. Multani to conduct an enquiry into the matter. During his visit to the village the on June 13, the ADC had found that in genuine persons were provided the compensation, while the genuine ones were not given any amount. When contacted, Multani confirmed about the inquiry. “I had submitted the report to the DC around two weeks ago. Action against the erring patwari was recommended in the report,” he added. However, the DC could not be contacted.

“We are fed up of making futile rounds the various offices in hope of getting justice. We had informed the Sultanpur Lodhi SDM about the injustice before submitting the complaint in Sangat Darshan. Neither DC nor SDM have provided any relief to us till date,” said the farmers.

“We were hopeful that our problem would be resolved within a fortnight after submitting the complaint in the sangat darshan, but to no avail,” they said. 

Jalandhar, July 17
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today seized 5 kg of heroin valued at Rs 5 crore in the international market from Amandeep, a resident of Gobindgarh locality in the city.

A special team of the DRI led by its joint director Dheeraj Rastogi seized the cache following a tip-off that the narcotic consignment would be brought and supplied on a scooter near Jyoti Chowk at a particular time. “Subsequently, some DRI sleuths reached the area and started looking for the scooter whose number was also revealed by the informer,” said Rastogi.

The scooter was found parked near the chowk and the sleuths started keeping an eye on it from a distance as they wanted to nab the consignee along with the seizure of heroin.

“Meanwhile, a person, later identified as Amandeep, came there and started moving around the scooter. When he thought that no one was noticing him, he tried to start the scooter,” he added.

The DIR men lost no time and nabbed him on the spot. Following which, they recovered 4 kg of heroin from the scooter.

During the preliminary interrogation, Amandeep reportedly told DRI men he had hid some heroin at his house. Later, his house was raided and the DRI men seized 1 kg of heroin hidden in two photo frames.

This is for the first time that Amandeep was arrested for drug peddling. The DRI joint director did not rule out the possibility of his links with some smugglers.

Amandeep, who is presently running a karyana shop, used to work as a travel agent.

Even during the special operation today, DRI men seized some passports from his possession.

The joint director further said that he also worked in the travel agency run by Jeewan Lata in the Urban Estate locality here. She was involved in drug smuggling and was wanted for the same, he added.

Meanwhile, Rastogi said Amandeep would be presented in the court of the chief judicial magistrate here on Wednesday.

Phagwara, July 17
President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has agreed to remain associated with the Kali Bein project, stated Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who had cleansed the 160 km rivulet.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Seechewal said the President expressed his desire during the telephonic conversation held a few days ago.

“Kalam has also agreed to visit Sultanpur Lodhi once he leaves his office,” disclosed Seechewal. Notably, the President had earlier visited the city last year to review the ongoing project.

Seechewal also declared to cleanse the sister rivulet Chitti Bein of nearby Chaheru village. Earlier addressing students and staff at local Guru Nanak College on the occasion of the inauguration of its new academic session, Seechewal, while highlighting the pre-eminence of clean water, gave a new slogan ‘Pani hai ta Prani hai’.

Pleading to use dirty water for organic farming, Seechewal underlined the need of setting up water treatment plants for cleansing toxic waters of various water channels.

Expressing concern over the depleting water table, Seechewal said the water level had plummeted by 200-400 feet in the state. “We are poisoning every gift of Nature, including air, water and earth,” he said. 

Phagwara, July 17
Residents of Urban Estate held a demonstration in front of the PUDA office to protest against the failure of the authorities to provide basic amenities in the locality.

The protesters, who sat on dharna outside the office wherein the auction of 18 shop-cum-offices (SCO) was being held, raised anti-PUDA slogans. Even though the authorities had made sufficient security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident, the protesters managed to enter the complex. Headed by the Urban Estate Residents Welfare Association president G.S. Malwai, the protesters expressed their resentment against the lackadaisical approach of the authorities in providing the basic amenities in the locality. The situation grew tense when the protesters tried to barge in the auction hall. However, they were stopped by the security staff present. ACA (PUDA) Kulbir Singh immediately formed a four member delegation to pacify the protesters. The officials assured protesters that work on the sewerage lines would begin from July 23. “A proposal for strengthening the roads of urban estate was sent to the government. The project is estimated to cost Rs 94 lakhs,” Kulbir told the protesters.

However, the protestors said in case the work is not completed by july 24, they would intensify their stir, which include blocking the national highway. Talking to the Tribune, Malwai said the locality lacks the basic amenities, including sewerage.

In the absence of proper disposal system, the sewage is being diverted to the deep ditches dug up in the parks. We are being forced to live amidst foul smell under the fear of outbreak of any disease,” he said.

“We have paid hefty amounts to buy the plots in a PUDA colony, but till date no one from PUDA has visited the area to hear the grievances of the residents. Even though the authorities, in year 2004, have given the contract to a Pune-based company for the installation of a treatment plant the same could not be set up till day,” said Malwai further. 

Jalandhar, July 17
A 10-member team of Police DAV Public School today left for the NASA Johnsons Space Centre Houston to participate in International Space Settlement Design Competition organised by the American Aeronautics Institution.

The irresistible allurement of Indian Army is over for the youths who seem to be no more fascinated by the challenges involved in the defence services. The force, which once offered breath-taking expeditions, thrills and adventure, has now turned into a battlefield of suicides. Courageous soldiers who once used to fight the enemy are now finding it difficult to battle problems within.

The death of a 26-year-old Army Capt. Megha Razdan, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her official residence in Jammu’s Kunjawani army camp, raises many questions.

Last year too, Army was rocked by woman officers’ suicides. While Lieutenant Sushma Chakrawarti shot herself in Udhampur, Major Shobha Rani killed herself in Bangalore.

Recent deaths in the defence forces, especially the Army, have raised many brows and put a stain on the unblemished image of the organisation. Reasons cited are many: High stress-levels, depression etc. Bit what’s absent is measures to fight them.

The trend raises another concern. Why the bravehearts, who are always associated with courage and honour, can’t overcome their blues. The need of the hour is to introduce humanitarian methods providing remedies for busting tremendous stress on soldiers. Besides motivational methods, regular leaves are a must so that jawans are able to keep in constant touch with their families.